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Men, boys, old women, young women who do not intend getting pregnant, pre-pubescent girls - all will have to eat bread fortified with folic acid in order to prevent around 350 cases of neural tube defects (spina bifida) a year.

The possible benefits of folic acid in preventing spina bifida were first raised 35 years ago yet I'm sure that the vast majority of women of child-bearing age are still completely unaware of its importance. So what's the answer? Education, advice on dietary supplementation? Encouragement of women to take responsibility for their health and the health of their developing child? No.